Shares of Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) rose over 2% on Monday after new real-world evidence indicated that its obesity treatment Wegovy (semaglutide) 2.4 mg lowered the risk of major cardiovascular events more effectively than Eli Lilly’s (NYSE:LLY) tirzepatide.
The data, unveiled at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025 in Madrid, came from the STEER study, which examined patients with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease, excluding those with diabetes.
The study found that patients consistently taking Wegovy—with no treatment gaps longer than 30 days—experienced a 57% greater reduction in the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from any cause compared with those on tirzepatide. Specifically, there were 15 cardiovascular events (0.1%) in the Wegovy group versus 39 events (0.4%) among tirzepatide users, with average follow-up periods of 3.8 months for Wegovy and 4.3 months for tirzepatide.
When considering all patients regardless of treatment interruptions, Wegovy still demonstrated a 29% lower risk of major cardiovascular events. During a longer follow-up—8.3 months for Wegovy and 8.6 months for tirzepatide—56 events (0.5%) occurred in the Wegovy cohort, compared with 83 events (0.8%) in the tirzepatide group.
These results add to mounting evidence that semaglutide’s cardiovascular benefits are distinct. Researchers noted that, while real-world analyses offer valuable insights, the findings are limited by the relatively short follow-up, reliance on administrative claims data, and potential unmeasured confounding factors.
The STEER study utilized the U.S. Komodo Research database, evaluating outcomes in 10,625 patients treated with Wegovy and an equal number treated with tirzepatide. The main endpoint was the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure hospitalization, coronary revascularization, and death from any cause.
Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg injection) carries a boxed warning for potential thyroid tumors, including cancer, and is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2. The most frequently reported side effects are gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
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